Our Future

In the last stretches of this very spiritual and reflective month of Ramadhaan, we’re all kind ofÂ getting serious about ourÂ own lives and the world around us. Driving home and just as I was thinking that American Muslims need to get out there and do more to clear up misunderstandings about Islam, I drove by a group of pre-teen/teen skateboarders. “How nice,” I thought, “skaters are now of all ethnicities.”

“Terrorist!”

I thought, “Are they talking to me? Should I stop and turn around to talk to them?” Being the only car driving by them at the time, and the only oneÂ wearing a scarf for maybe miles, I realized they were referring to me afterall. And having seen about a dozen of them, I wasn’t sure I’d get the warmest welcome.

And then it hit me.

These young men are the future of this country. As great as it is that these boys of various backgrounds can get along with each other, there is still (and maybe always be?) a more marginalized group(s) out there. I just so happen to be on that side now. And I’m not liking the recent statistics that find more Americans hold a negative view of Islam and Muslims now than right after 9/11.

What to do? Stand on hilltops and declare I’m not a terrorist? Or maybe hand out leaflets to people about Islam on the street? Or fundraise for millions of dollars and lobby for airtime on television! Yes, we need to have our own voice, to define ourselves, and not wait to be defined by others! Canadian Muslims have already begun (at least in the form of a sitcom called “Little Mosque on the Prairie.”)! British Muslims already hold seats in the Parliament! So where are the American Muslims in this equation?

So American Muslims tend to be a little behind in “getting out there.” Although we finally have the first MuslimÂ elected to Congress (Keith Ellison), there are a number of reasons why we’re still behind in other forms of media:

1) The terrible events of 9/11 happened here. SomeÂ American MuslimsÂ feel the “guilt of association” involved in terrorism, even though they know Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. They maybe feel it’s tooÂ hard to persuade others of that fact, so would ratherÂ just sit down and be quiet.

2) We’re kind of centuries behind England as it,Â historically-speaking. And geographically, it makes sense that England has had its fair share of immigrants from Asia and Africa loooong before America was even called America. Being a fairly new country (that was, ahem, based on immigration), America is still getting used to the fact that immigrants now come from all over. Asia, Africa, and hey, that includes the Middle East and other Muslim countries. Along with that comes a learning curve, a hesitant “meet and greet”, if you will. It’ll take time, but we’ll eventually get to know each other and maybe even come to find out that we’re all human, afterall.

3) Some American Muslims are just plain oblivious of the sheer lack of knowledge most Americans have about Islam, either because they don’t know how to defend Islam or they don’t get out much. They don’t know what’s being said about them in other religious institutions, public/private schools, law enforcement agencies, etc. They don’t know that in some cases, Islam is being redefined as something quite different than what they’re used to. And some (unfortunately) haven’t exactly studied the true teachings of Islam and are maybe catching it all on CNN like the rest of us. Forget Muslim scholars and their view on Islam, pundits always know what their talking about! (right).

I’m sure there are other reasons besides fear, historical immaturity or ignorance, but I think you get the point. My realization today was, enough with excuses. While trying to live a peaceful and God-fearing life as Muslims, we also need to be more beneficial to those around us. We need to uphold equality, truth, justice through volunteering, lobbying for just causes, standing up for the rights of others (not just ourselves), being a good neighbor, and just plain being more proactive. The reactionary stuff has been done.

I, for one, need to invite my neighbors over more often. Small talk on the driveway is one thing, but really seeing someone’s intimate space (their home) is another. In my next installment, I hope to tell you how that goes, God willing.

Sofia Chaudhry

One Response

As Salaamu Alaykum wa rahmatuAllahi wa barrakhatu
I find the same dilemma…defining ourselves as what we’re NOT rather than who we ARE…subhanaAllah. How disappointing…if those kids got even a taste of the truth of Islam, I wonder how they’d respond.
I feel like we both have one thing in common, though. Me and those skaters. We are both rebels to an ill society. Most of them dont want to fit the norm, although I’m afraid they’re doing just that. More products of their environment.
Now, I escaped from the ‘norm’ by taking a different path, but me as a converted Muslim and they as ‘attempted rebels’…we have a common enemy. That is conformity.
I wish I could help them to see it, but
Allah does not change the condition of someone until he changes what’s in his own heart.
May Allah guide them, and those like them b4 a day begins with a Western Sunrise. Ameen.
alhamdulillah alhamdulillah alhamulillah…
Ma Salaama